Half to william ii



2 Sheets 'Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

S A WEST AMALGAMATOR. No. 553,634.

Patented Jan. 28; 1896.

0 s2 A i .4 E.

ANDREW H.6RAHAM. PHOTO-UTHOYWASHIN GTUN, 01:.

- (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

S. A. WEST. AMALGAMATOR.

No. 553,634. I v Patented Jan. 28, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL A. VEST, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- I'IALF TO WILLIAM H. H. HART, OF SAME PLACE.

AMALGAMATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0.'553,634, dated January 28, 1896.

Application filed September 20, 1895. Serial No. 563,111. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL ALEXANDER \VEsT, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Amalgamators; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to that class of amalgamators in which a vertical series of amalgamating-surfaces are arranged so as to successively discharge the material from one surface upon the other.

My invention consists of the constructions and combinations of devices which I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective amalgamator for use in both the wet and the dry process.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of my machine on the line a; as of Fig. 2. Fig. 2is a vertical longitudinal section on the line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 2 z of Figs. 1 and 2.

A is a box comprising a three-sided frame and a removable side or cover B, which is fitted to the frame by means of suitable bolts. Within the box and extending from one side of the frame are shelves or supports O, which extend the whole length of the box and project toward the cover or movable side, stopping short thereof, thereby leaving a space. Projecting from the inner side of the removable cover are similar supports or shelves D, which project toward the opposite side and stop short thereof, leaving a space, and said shelves or supports alternate with the shelves or supports 0 from the other side, whereby the spaces from one to the other are on opposite sides successively. Upon these shelves or supports are amalgamating plates E, one plate being on each shelf or support. Each plate may extend to the edge of the shelf or support; but the preferable construction is to extend each entirely over to the opposite side, thereby traversing the spaces left by the shelves or supports, and when so extended the plates directly over these spaces are perforated or apertured, as shown at e, and the best form of the apertures is oblong. WVhen the plates stop short with the edge of the shelves, the spaces are to be covered by a suitable screen, thereby serving the same purpose as the apertured portion 6 of the plates, which said portion may be regarded as a screen. The shelves or supports and the amalgamating-plates are oppositely inclined downwardly from each side, as shown, and said inclination may be in a straight plane, if desired; but I find the best form to be slightly concaved, as Ihave shown, thereby providing more of a dish or pan shape, which, in con junction with the shaking or vibratory mo tion, has a better effect in concentrating or settling the material and accomplishing a more perfect amalgamation. On the top of the box is'a'supply-hopper F, the dischargethroat of which is provided with a screen f, and at the bottom of the box is a dischargeaperture G, by which the tailin gs are run off. In operation, the material to be worked is fed into the hopper and thence through the screen f, falling upon the first amalgamatingplate. Down this it passes and in a stream flows through the apertures or screen portion eonto the next plate, and flowing in an opposite direction down said plate passes through its screen portion e onto the succeeding plate, and so on throughout the series back and forth throughout the Whole width of the box many times in its long and tortuous course, during which the process of amalgamation is carried out and ample time provided. A shaking or vibratory motion is imparted to the plates during this operation. I have found the best means of communicating this motion to be as follows:

The box A is mounted at each end upon spring-standards H, which are supported from the base I of the machine. J is a crank-shaft able gearing to an eccentric K, from which a connecting-rod L extends to the box A. By

these means the box A is rapidly vibrated on its spring-standards,and this vibration causes sufficient agitation in the material passing through the machine to enable the separation of the heavier and more precious particles to take place, so that they will sink down through the stream of material and come in contact with the amalgamating-plates.

In cases where the machine is used in the dry process and it is desirable to pass through the box a current of air, I have, extending down from each shelf or support into the pathway of the material, a lip l\[ which so contracts the passage as to cause a decided draft or current of air directly over the material as it flows along upon the ainalgamating-plates.

The provision of the oblong apertures 6, whether in the amalgamating-plates or in separate screens, results in a more unbroken stream of material falling from one plate to the other than if circular apertures were used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An amalgamator, comprising a box, a series of oppositely inclined supports or shelves with the supports of each side terminating short of the opposite side to leave spaces from one shelf to the other on opposite sides successively, am lgamatin g plates extending over said supports or shelves and traversing the spaces, having the portion extended over the spaces foraminated, a hopper at one end of the box and a discharge at the opposite end.

2. An amalgamator comprising a three sided box, having a series of inclined shelves or supports projecting from one of its sides toward the open side and terminating short of this latter side, a removable cover or side for closing the open side of the box said cover or side having a series of shelves or supports inclined oppositely to the shelves of the box, and proj ecting inwardly toward the closed side of the box, and terminating short thereof whereby spaces are left between the outer ends of both series of shelves to enable the material to pass from side to side throughout its course, amalgamating plates secured to said shelves and extended beyond their inner end and over said spaces to the wall beyond, and having that portion which lies over the spaces provided with apertures, and means for in'lpartiug a shaking movement to the box.

3. An amalgamator consisting of a box, a vertical series of oppositely inclined overlapping supports or shelves projecting from opposite sides of the box and terminating short of the opposite side thereof, leaving spaces between their ends and said side, amalgamating plates supported upon said shelves and having apertures or screens over said spaces and downwardly extending lips projecting into the passage or course of travel of the m aterial.

4:. An amalgalnator consisting of a box, a vertical series of oppositely inclined, overlapping supports or shelves projecting from op posite sides of the box and terminating short of the opposite side thereof, leaving spaces between their ends and said side, amalgamatin g plates supported upon said shelves, and having apertures or screens over said spaces, downwardly extending lips projecting into the passage or course of travel of the material, and means for imparting a vibratory or shaking motion to said box.

5. An amalgamatorconsistin g of a box comprised of a three sided frame and a removable side or cover completing the box, shelves or supports extending from the side of the box, and from said cover in opposite directions and at opposite inclinations, and alternating one with the other and terminating short of the opposite sides thereof, leaving spaces at 0pposite sides, and amalgamating plates upon said shelves orsupports and having apertures or screens over the spaces at opposite sides.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

SAMUEL A. VEST.

\Vitnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, \VM. F. BOOTH. 

